Knob actuated combination lock



Pll 23, 1957 E. M. MILLER 2,789,425

xNoB AcTuATEn COMBINATION Locx Filed Sept.. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [dn/ard lV. /V/l/er ATTORNEYJ April 23, 1957 E. M. MILLER KNOB ACTUATED COMBINATION LOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l5, 1953 INVENTOR. [dn/ara M Mil/er April 23, 1957 E. M. MILLER xNoB ACTUATED COMBINATION LOCK 4 She'ets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. [dn/afd M Mil/ er BY ,l Agg, )WW zam c@ Mw# ATTORNEYS April 23, 1957 E. M. MILLER 2,789,425

KNOB ACTUATED COMBINATION LOCKl Filed Sept. 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /42 /40/4/- @gam INVENTOR [dn/ard IV. M/f//er Mamas .a small bolts through apertures 43, thereby cooperating in the assembly of the vlocking means 20 in a manner herein later to be described.

As shown in Fig. 14, the laterally projecting cam follower arms 37 form extensions of a slide 38. The slide 33 is of such dimension that it tits slidably within a race 44 (Fig. 9) cut horizontally across the center of the thickened portion 40a of the circular slide base 40. The race 44 is cut to such a depth as to allow the slide 38 laterally movable captivity beneath a circular slide cover 45, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the thickened portion 48a of the slide base 40. The lateral movement of the slide 38 is limited to the extent that the cam follower arms 37, projecting at right angles from its surface, can move within the elongated slots 41 cut through the slide base 40. The slide base 40, the slide 38, and the slide cover 4S are assembled by means of screws projected through apertures 45a in the slide cover 45 and into suitable threaded apertures inthe portion 40a of the slide base 40.

One end of the slide 3S is provided with a sleeve 39 projecting outwardly from the surface of the slide in a direction opposed to that of the cam follower arms 37. The slide cover 45 is notched at 46 to allow free lateral movement of the sleeve 39 as it is carried with the slide 38. Within the sleeve 39 there is pivotally positioned the bolt retracting post 17. A slot 42 in the slide base 40, positioned between and somewhat to one side of slots 41, allows free movement of that portion of the post 17 which extends beyond the surface of the slide 38. Thus it is assured that any movement on the part of the slide 38 will result in a corresponding movement on the part of the post 17, the bolt retracting link 16, and, consequently,

the bolt 15.

In view of the interrelationship of the above described mechanical elements, it follows that rotation of the inside door knob 21, and thereby the cam plate 30 through the shaft 31, will cause a lateral movement of the slide 38 by the action of the cam 32 and either one of its camming surfaces 33 upon one of the cam follower arms 37. The slide 38, through sleeve 39, transfers this motion to the post 17, upon which is pivotally mounted the retracting link 16. By means of lateral movement of the link 16 the bolt 15 is retracted until the-reduced portion 15a is flush with the face plate 19 and the door 10 is unlatched. It is also evident that oscillation of the inside door knob 21 in either direction will thus withdraw the latch bolt.

The outside door knob 22 is provided with a reduced portion 24 axially bored to receive a hollow cylindrical Shaft 51 which extends laterally toward the outside of the door from the surface of a circular centering member 50 and is an integral part thereof. The centering member 50 has a circumferential flange 52 from the inside surface of which projects a collar 53. The centering member 50 is held in position by means of a retaining shell 54 which is fastened to the outside of the Idoor 10 by screws 54a. By means of a set screw 24a the knob 22, at its reduced portion 24, is rigidly held upon the shaft 51 and rotation therebetween prevented.

The centering member 50 has an axially located internally splined aperture 55 provided for the reception of an externally splined portion 72 of a shaft 71. The shaft 71 extends outwardly from a cam plate 70 located in the interior of the locking means 20, see Figs. 1l and 16.

Referring now to Fig. 1l, the mechanism embodying the combination feature of the locking means 20, including the above-mentioned cam plate 70, is contained in a main housing 88 which in the present embodiment is cupshaped. The housing 80 has a cylindrical wall 82 adapted to t snugly within the transverse aperture 11 of the door 10. The bottom 81 of the housing 80 has a flange 81a of a larger diameter than the transverse aperture 11,

which is positioned against the outside surface of the door 10 when the housing 80 is assembled therewith. In the l' 4 threaded posts 83, which project outwardly from wall 82 and t semicircular offsets 11a in the transverse apertureI 11 to prevent rotation of the housing 80.

Within the main housing there is rotatably nested a secondary cup shape housing 86 of similar construction. The bottom 87 of housing 86 is provided with a central circular aperture 87a surrounded, on its outwardly disposed side, by a collar 88 (Fig. 13). \Vhen the secondary housing 86 is nested within the housing 80 the collar 88 projects outwardly through a circular aperture 81b in the bottom 81 of the housing 80. The generally cylindrical wall 89 of the secondary housing 86 is provided with two internally threaded diametrically opposite posts. The posts 90 are angularly offset from the posts 83 thereby insuring rotatability of the secondary housing 86 in one direction and to the extent necessary to the proper functioning of the lock.

It is within the secondary housing 86 that the cam plate 70 is positioned. The shaft 71 of the cam plate 70 projects through the aperture 87a in the bottom of the secondary housing 86, extending well beyond the collar 88 and, at its splined portion 72, rotatably interlocked with j the centering member 50. A retaining washer 57 of suicient diameter is axially located and maintained upon the end of the shaft 71 by a screw 56.

Rotation of the cam plate 70 in response to rotation of the outside door knob 22 is assured by the centering member 50, internally splined at 55 to receive the externally splined portion 72 of the shaft 71, and its cylindrical shaft 51 to which is secured the reduced portion 24 of the outside door knob 22 by means of set screw 24a.

The outside door knob 22 is limited as to its rotatability by three interreacting washers, 60, 64, and 67. The first of these washers, 60, is centrally apertured at 60a to tit I over the outwardly extending collar 88 of the secondary housing 86. An internally projecting tab 61 of the washer 60 is keyed into a slot 88a in the collar 88 and rotation therebetween prevented. From the periphery of the washer 60 there radiate two hooks 62 which diverge outwardly at an angle to the outwardly disposed surface of the washj the housing 80 is provided with two diametrically opposed f outwardly extending posts 84. The posts S4 are positioned outside the periphery of the washer 60 and at a circumferential distance from the hooks 62. A pair of springs (Fig. 4) each of which is looped at one of its extremities upon one of the hooks 62 and at the other of its extremities upon one of the posts 84, constantly urge the washer 60 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. Since the washer 69 is rotatably locked to the housing 86 through its tab 61 in the slot 88a of the collar 88, said secondary housing is likewise biased in the same direction.

The washer 64 is apertured at 64a and rotatably positioned upon that part of the shaft 71 of the cam plate 70 which projects outwardly beyond the collar 88 of the secondary housing 86. From the periphery of the washer 64 there projects a tab 65 of such radial dimension as tol be abutted by stop 63 of the Washer 60 and have its rotation limited thereby. Diametrically opposite the tab 65 and outwardly bent at right angles to the outermost surface of the Washer 64, is a stop 66.

The washer 67 is centrally and suitably apertured at 67a to tit upon the splined portion 72 of the shaft 7,1.

An outwardly radiating tab 68 so far extends beyond the .y

periphery of the washer 67 as to make circumferential contact with the stop 66 of the washer 67, but not far enough to touch the stop 63 of the washer 60.

"iT-he action of/the washers' 60, 64, and 67 is'bestu'nderstoodl `by reference toFigs. 2, 3, and 4.y When the -outside door'knob 22 is rotated it' carries with it in this motion the centering member 50, the shaft 71,.and the cam 70 as herein before described.` The washer 67,.splined upon the shaft 71 at its sp1-ined portion 72, responds to this movement. When the tab 68 of the washeril`67 strikes the stop/66 of the freely rotatable washer 64, the washer 64 also begins -to rotate in the same direction as the washer 67. When the tab 65 of the washer 64 is abutted by the -stop 63 of the washer 60, vfurther rotation of the outside door knob 22-in that direction is not possible independently of the secondary housing 86, for said secondary housingftl is rotatably locked to the washer-60 through its collar 88, slot 88a, andvtab 61. The limitation placed upon the outside door knob 22 and its associated parts by the secondary housing 86 will herein later be described, but it is sufcient for the moment that the knob 22 can-l at all times rotate approximately two turns from either'extreme'position as determinedby the Awashers 60, 64, and 67.

Accompanying the rotation ofl the outside' door knob 22 and its associated parts as described'above is a series of clearly audible clicks or snapsfY These sounds-are caused by one leg 92a of a iat loop type spring 92s`uc` cessively snapping into elongated, circumferentially spaced detents 73 von the periphery of the cam plate 70. V'The spring 92 is shaped at its central portion to be mounted upon a rectangular post 91 locatedat the periphery of the bottom 87 of the secondary housing 86. As to disposition, the post 91 is circumferentiallyidentical with the wall 89 of the secondary housing86, said wall having been cut away at 93 to form said post. The other' leg 92h ofthe 'spring 92 is positioned within the wall89. The cam plate 70, when in assembled relationship with the secondary housing S6, compresses the legs 92a and 92b of the spring 92. The leg 92a-is turned upwardly awayfrom the periphery of the cam plate 70 at`92' thus enabling it torise out of the detents 73 with equal facility regardless of the direction of rotationof the cam plate.

' Upon the inwardly disposed surface of the camplate 70 there are positioned a plurality of diversely shaped cams 74 of such design and arrangement as to propel a cam follower pin 111 over a predetermined path when the cam plate 70 is oscillated in a predetermined manner. The cam follower pin 111 projects toward the lcams 74 from one end of a cam follower arm 110.7v Projecting in the same direction from .the Vopposite end of the cam follower arm 1'10 is a pivot pin 1.09. The pivot pin 109 isl pivotally positioned in an aperture 101 located near the edge of a generally circular partition plate 100.

The partition plate 100 has a diameter and'peripheral contour whichenables it to t snugly within the contines of"y the secondary housing' 86. Outwardly radiating tabs 102 position the partition plate 100 within the secondaryn housing 86,.the wall 89 of said secondary housing having beenv cut away at 94, 95,l 96 and, as before mentioned, at 93, to accommodate said tabs.

The cam plate 70 is therefore .positioned-between the bottom 87 ofthe secondary housing 86 and the partition plate1'00. The cam follower arm 110 is pivotally mounted upon` thev inwardly disposed surface of the partition plate 100 with the ycam follower pin 111y extending through said partition plateby virtue of 'an elongated aperture `103. The elongated aperture 103 describes an arc radiating from the aperture 101. When the cam follower arm L is assembledwith'the partition plate 1.00, and the pivot pin^109 is inserted in the aperture 101', the cam follower p in 111', responding to the cams 74, arcuately, oscillates within the elongated-aperture 103.

vvUpon the inwardly disposed surface of the .partition plate'ltltl there is .also positioned an, interlocking member "115. v `The interlocking member`1'15`is a reversely curved'at'stripsomewhat'S-shaped withthe loops being onunequal radii, andlwithaiiilly 'directed extensions 118,l

6 119'.at.'each end, having a top widely'r arched atri-16 and reversing" itself sharply into a lower-base portion.117f as best'seen in Figs.-17'a'nd 18.` When positioned flatly upon the inner' surface 'of4 the lpartitionf plate 100,- the/.inter- IOckingmember 115 is slideable in the direction-.ofaits greatest-dimension Within the limits imposeduponitwby the'wall'89 ofthe secondary housing86.

Fromthe base portion 117 of the interlockingmembe 115 there projects a bolt portion 119 which -radiatesutwardly through the wall89 of the secondary'housing where it is cutaway at 94 and is of suiicientlength-.lto extend into the wall 82 ofthe housing`80, -the wall'fhaving been cut away atv 79 sutliciently to allow this. Therefore, with a.bolt-119 in--position as shown inFig. 17 the housing 80 and thesecondaryhousing 86r are rotatably-locked to one another. This position is normallymaintainedfby a latspring 114 fulcrumed around a postf-100a-secured to and projecting from thetinne'r surface of the partition plate'.100.at one ofl the tabs 102. :The shortery leg.1=14b of the spring 5114 is positioned within-the wall 89'of the secondaryhousing 86 while the longerv leg l114n'presses radially outwardly upon the'base'portion117 of"the'inter locking member115.

` Diametrically. opposite the bolt 1.19 and projectingoutwardlyl through the wall 89 at the cut out portion 96 from the interlocking member 115, is a bolt portionf1118. When'theiinterlocking member 115. is in-the position' shownin Fig. y17,y the vbolt portionA 118 does not extend out of' the secondary housing-86 suiciently to overlap the wall 82.0f the housing 80. However, when theinterlocking member 115 is inthe position shown yfinwFigN-l with the bolt 119 having been` withdrawn fromifthecut out portion 79`,the top bolt 118projects into an extensive cut away portion 78 in the wall 82. The portion of the wall 82 of the housing 80 which is cut away at 78 is-of such extentas to allow rotation of the secondary housing 86 about 1/1 of a revolution.

To accomplish withdrawal ofthe boltr119 ofthe interlocking member 115 from the wall 82 at its cut-out por# tion 79, the cam follower arm is provided with-a' nger-like extension 112. The extension 112 projects radially outwardly from the pivot pin 109 beyondy the carn follower pin 111. 'The relationshipof the partition" plate 100, the interlocking member 115y and the camffol lower arrn 110 is such that the arcuate slot 103' is positioned within the concavity of thearched portion 1716' of the interlocking member. When the camv follower arm 110 is oscillated to the farthest outwardly radiating .posi-v tion permittedby the cam -follower pin.11.1 in the `arcuate slot 103, the extension 112 touches and exerts pressure against a shoulder 116a of the :arched portion 1-16.of.thf:-v

interlocking member, and cams it outwardlyuntil the bolt 119 is withdrawn from the housing 80 and the bolt `118fis` projected into the cut out portion 78of said housing.

When the cam plate 70 has been oscillated in a prede-- termined manner by means of the door knob 22, andthe cam followerpin 111 has responded to the cams 74.01" the cam plate, said pin 111 comes to rest at the position shown in Fig. l7.

cam'plate 70 by an elongated tapered cam 74a.

The cam 74a touches the periphery ofthe cam plate 70 at its notched end 75 and angles inwardly from the secondary housing-86 is free to rotate within the housing,

80 the distance allowed by the cut-away portion 78 off-said housing. i v

The relationship of the cam` rfollower pin .111,the arcuate slot 103, and the carn 74a` n(Figs. n1S and 19)` is now The camy follower pin 111` is nowy ready to be cammed outwardly to the peripheryofl the4 such that the cam follower pin is wedged between a notch 75a` of the cam 74a and the radially outermost limit of the arcuate slot 103. Upon release of the outer door knob '22 the ywasher 60, urged by the springs 85 pulling on its hooks 62, returns the secondary housing 86 to its normal position. The retaining ability of the notch 75a into which is keyed the cam follower pin 111 Iis sucient to maintain the interlocking member 115 and its bolt 119 in a withdrawn position even upon release of the outer door knob 22 and the return of the secondary housing to its normal position. Thus the housing 80 and the secondary housing 86 remain unlocked in relation to each other until the outer door knob 22, and therefore the cam plate 70, is deliberately rotated in a reverse direction.

To maintain the cam follower arm 110, the interlocking member 115, and the spring 114 in their proper positions against the inner surface of the partition plate 160, there is provided a cover plate 120 as best seen in Fig. 1l. The cover plate 120 is generally circular in shape and of a diameter corresponding to that of the secondary housing 86. Apertures 121 are located near the circumference of the cover plate 120 directly in line with the internally threaded posts 90 of the secondary housing 86. By means of screws through said apertures the cover plate 120 is firmly secured at the posts 90 to the secondary housing. Two diametrically opposite circumferentially disposed 1ips'122 are provided, said lips being bent at right angles tothe'cover plate 120 and projecting yin the direction of the partition plate. The lips 122 are of such dimension and position as to rest upon those tabs 102 of the partition plate 100 which are positioned in the cut away portions 94 and 96 of the Wall S9 of the secondary housing 86.

A third lip 123 projects in the same direction as the lips 122 from one edge of a rectangular aperture 12311 in the cover plate 120. Upon that surface of the cover plate 120 disposed toward the partition plate 101) there is provided a leaf spring 124 secured by a rivet 124g at one end, and extending over the edge of the lip 123. Both the lip 123 and the spring 124 are positioned over the cam follower arm 110. Pressure from the spring 124 backed up by the lip 123 is exerted upon the cam follower arm 110 to such -an extent that the arm `does not oscillate freely, but of such insufficient amount that movement of the cam follower arm by the cams 74 through the cam follower pin 111 is not inhibited.

A second :aperture 125 is also provided in the cover plate 120, said aperture 125 being generally rectangular in shape but with a widened portion 126 at one end. The

widened portion results in a gently curved edge on one of the longer sides of the rectangular aperture 125, said edge being disposed nearer the center of the cover plate.

In Fig. l I show, at the exterme right of Ian exploded view, the combination mechanism assembly of the locking means 20 as it appears when the housing Si), secondary housing 86, cam 70, partition plate 100, interlocking member 115, cam follower arm 110, yand cover plate 120 are in an assembled condition.

Referring still to Fig. and also to Fig. 8, at 130 I show :a housing cover which is generally circular in shape and of such a dimension and contour as to match that of the wall 82 of the housing 80. Apertures 131 line up with internally threaded posts 83 in the wall of the housing 80 to Ifacilitate securing thereto. The housing cover 130` has a substantial thickness and a race 132, cut horizontally across its central portion, is provided to allow a slide 138 laterally movable captivity 'beneath a slide cover 135.

On one end of the slide 138 there is firmly secured the inwardly projecting bolt retracting post 17. The slide 138 is provided, at its upper edge, with an arm 139, out- Wardly projecing at right angles to the outwardly disposed surface of said slide. A rectangular aperture 133 in the bottom of the race 132 allows free passage of the arm 139, land said arm 139 is long enough to extend into the aperture 125 of the cover plate 120 of the secondary housing 86. The aperture 133 is of sufc-ient lateral dimension to allow the arm 139 and therefore the slide 138 horizontal movement. The slide cover 135 is cut away at 136 to the extent that the post 17, mounted upon the slide 135, has adequate lateral freedom.

When the combination mechanism has been properly manipulated and the secondary housing 86 rotatably unlocked from the housing 80, (by withdrawal of bolt 119 from notch 79 of housing 80) continued rotation of the secondary housing 86 propels the slide 138 in a lateral direction by means of its arm 139 in aperture 125 o f the rotating cover plate 120. The slide 138 carries with 1t the bolt retracting post 17 which, through bolt retracting link 16, withdraws the bolt 15 and unlatches the door 10.

Final assembly of the locking means 20 within the cylindrical transverse aperture 11 of the door 10, including the combination mechanism operated by the outslde door knob 22 and the bolt retracting mechanism operated by the inside .door knob 21, is completed by means of two bolt members 140.

The bolt members 140 include externally threaded portions 141 and internally threaded portions 142 of about equal length. The externally threaded portions 141 project through apertures 137 in the slide cover 135, apertures 131 in the housing cover 130, and are rmly screwed into the posts 83 of the housing 80. The internally threaded portions 142 are adapted to receive bolts or screws projecting through apertures 43 in the slide base 40.

To summarize brielly, the bolt retracting post 17 is laterally movable in a direction away from the bolt projecting edge 12 of the door 10 by either the inside door knob 21 or the outside door knob 22.

The inside door knob 21, through cam 30 and slide 38, withdrawsthe bolt 15 when rotated in either direction and no other manipulation by the operator is necessary.

The outside door knob 22 withdraws the bolt 15 when said knob is turned from the outside in a clockwise direction as illustrated, but only after the proper oscillation of the combination. This is a known combination lock arrangement whereby alternate clockwise and counterclockwise oscillation of knob 22 causes follower pin 111 to be cammed radially outwardly until throw-out cam 74a picks up pin 111 in the position of Fig. 17 and carries it to the jammed or nal position shown in Figs. 18 and 19. Rotation of the cam plate in relation to the secondary housing 86 and in a bolt retracting direction, ceases when the cam follower pin 111 has been maneuvered into the notch a of the cam 74a. However, this action causes the secondary housing 86 to become rotatably disengaged from the housing due to the extension 112.

of the cam follower arm exerting pressure upon the interlocking member and thereby withdrawing the bolt 119. The resulting rotation of the secondary housing 86 causes lateral movement on the part of bolt retracting post 17 by means of the slide 138, the arm 139 of which projects into the aperture of the cover plate 120.

As mentioned previously, when pin 111 is in the notch 75a of cam 74, the knob 22 will withdraw the latch bolt 15 until such time as the operator deliberately turns knob 22 in the opposite direction to release pin 111 from notch 75a, thus resetting the combination (pin 111 returns to position near the center of cam plate 70) ready for the next operation.

What I claim is:

1. An outside-knob-operated combination lock comprising a cam plate, a cup shaped housing and a main housing, said cam plate nested within and arcuately oscillatable within but normally rotatably disconnected from said cup shaped housing which is positioned within but normally interlocked with said main housing, a knob operatively associated with said cam plate for oscillating the latter, an interlocking member having a locked position in which it locks said cup shaped housing to said,

main housing and having an unlocked position, a cam follower arm, a pin positioned upon the cam follower arm and projecting into said cam plate, a partition plate separating said cam follower arm and said interlocking member from said cam plate and provided with an aperture for the projection of said pin therethrough, a cover plate for said cup shaped housing securely fastened thereto; a slide operatively and slidably associated with said cover plate, a bolt retracting post on said slide, a latch bolt adapted to be oscillatably mounted in a door, bolt retracting linkage connected between said bolt and said post, said cam follower pin, upon proper oscillation by said knob, locking said cup shaped housing to said cam plate at the partition plate, and further rotation of said knob causing withdrawal of said bolt through said cup shape housing cover plate connection.

2. A knob-operated combination lock comprising a cam plate, a cup-shaped housing and a main housing, said cam plate nested within and arcuately oscillatable within but normally rotatably disconnected from said cup-shaped housing which is positioned within but normally interlocked with said main housing, a knob operatively associated with said cam plate for oscillating the latter, an

interlocking member having a locked position in which it locks said cup-shaped housing to said main housing and having an unlocked position, a cam follower arm, a pin positioned upon the cam follower arm and projecting into said cam plate, a cover plate for said cup-shaped housing securely fastened thereto; a slide operatively and slidably associated with said cover plate, a bolt retracting post on said slide, a latch bolt adapted to be oscillatably mounted in a door, bolt retracting linkage connected between said bolt and said post, said cam follower pin, upon proper oscillation by said knob, locking said cup-shaped housing to said cam plate, and further rotation of said knob caus ing withdrawal of said bolt through said cup-shaped housing cover plate connection.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 396,273 Douds Ian. 15, 1889 851,575 Vieweg Apr. 23, 1907 914,819 Gagnon Mar. 9, 1909 1,212,381 Miller Jau. 16, 1917 2,554,165 Young May 22, 1951 

